Church Membership – What Does It Mean?

According to 21st century research, fewer and fewer people are committed to active church attendance in the United States. I won’t spend time dealing with the data and its implications. You can find much discussion about the causes of this spiritual pandemic and the effects on the home, the church, and the country. Suffice it to say that I have observed this trend as a pastor.

Perhaps we should not be surprised by this dilemma. For decades the value of church membership has lessened because the obligations of membership have grown weaker. Allow me to explain.

The first church I served as senior pastor is a wonderful church with a strong core of committed believers. Soon after I became their pastor, however, I made a shocking discovery. There were many people who claimed to be members of the church, but they never attended, served, or gave. They were members in name only. They signed a piece of paper saying that they had received Christ and been baptized and that they wanted to “join” the church. That was pretty much all that we required of them. We wanted them to be involved, but we really did not require it of them. This scenario is true (at least in the past) of most churches with which I am acquainted.

Many Christians treat church membership like they treat a gym membership. They sign on the dotted line. They show up occasionally. They are usually sore for a while afterwards. They like the idea of being a member, but they do not ever fully experience the benefits of being a member because they never fully participate.

The biblical model of church membership is not as much about joining as it is about participating.  That is why at Still Waters Church we emphasize participation rather than membership. Does signing a piece of paper make you a member of the local body of believers? No! Participating with a group of believers makes you a part of the group. Participating is about inclusion. You only really belong when you participate.

So how do you participate? I like to emphasize taking your next step in your relationship with Christ. No matter if you are a new believer or a mature believer you must always take your next step. Our vision at Still Waters Church is, “Bringing people, wherever they are, into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.” The following statements capture what it means to be a member through participation:

·      Your Next Step Is Your Most Important Step – We must identify with Christ through salvation and baptism. Those are the first steps, but they are not that last. The Christian life is a series of next steps. Simply put, this means spiritual growth.

·      We are Better Together – One amazing thing about God’s church is how he designed it to bless our lives through fellowship and participation. God never intended for you to live the Christian life alone. Jesus let us know that it is not about you, but it is about us! It is much more than singing next to someone on Sunday. We are to serve, give, love, and support one another.

·      Generous People are Happy People – Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than receive.” You are far happier and more fulfilled when you give generously. By giving resources to spread the gospel through a local congregation, you are helping fulfill the biblical mandate to take the good news to everyone everywhere. You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving. Generosity is a big part of obeying Christ’s command to love others.

·      Inviting is Evangelism – You play a huge role in bringing others to Christ. By simply inviting others to church you are also inviting them into a relationship with Christ. You play a role in God’s story. God wants us to share that story with others. By inviting others, you participate with the church to spread the gospel.

·      We Embrace the Mess – Jesus lived among messy people. People’s lives are messed up because of sin. When we embrace the mess, we embrace messy people. The church is a hospital for the sick, not a county club for the privileged. When you love people and bring them to Christ, you are going to include people who are messy.

·      Participation Is Membership – You only really belong when you participate. We emphasize being involved rather than signing on the dotted line. Participation is a requirement for being a true member of a local church.

So, what about you? Are you a paper signer or a participant? Lots of church members are not really church members yet – but you can be by taking your next step today!